Small Business Workshop 2023 – Presented by Business Snowy Valleys

Small businesses are bearing the brunt of tough economic conditions.  Globally everyone is just beginning to get over the wash up from the Covid-19 pandemic, local communities are looking to rebuild their lives after flooding and bushfires and individual households are increasingly tightening their belts due to successive rate rises. 

Our Small Business Workshop 2023 looks to shine a light on the challenges of being a small business owner.   We hope to provide attendees with a thought-engaging event that helps attendees to identify and recognize signs of mental ill-health, identify the resources which are available to them in times of need and more importantly we hope open-up a discussion on mental health in our local community to help remove the stigma associated with ill mental health. 

Key Resources:

CLICK HERE FOR HAZEL DALTON’S PRESENTATION - SMALL BUSINESS WELLBEING

CLICK HERE FOR ROB SOUTHWELL’s PRESENTATION - KNOW THY NUMBERS, THE 3 P’s & CASH FLOW IS KING

Statistics

This report highlights some confronting facts:

  • HIGH RATES OF MENTAL ILLNESS - Small business owners continue to experience high levels of mental ill-health. Twenty-two per cent – just over 1 in 5 –of small business respondents reported having been diagnosed with a mental ill-health condition by a doctor or health professional in recent months: 14 per cent reported an anxiety diagnosis; 12 per cent a diagnosis of depression; and 12 per cent were diagnosed with a stress-related problem

  • LIMITED ACCESS TO SUPPORT- Business owners continue to face barriers to accessing support and lack effective strategies to monitor and maintain their mental health.

  • STIGMA - Fifty-two per cent of small business respondents ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ they were more likely to seek mental health support if they could remain anonymous. Forty-six per cent of small business respondents ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ they would be treated poorly if they disclosed being diagnosed with a mental illness.

 

Mental Health Resources

Murrumbidgee Local Health District - https://www.mlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/our-services/mental-health-services

Flourish - https://www.flourishaustralia.org.au/service/tumut

Black Dog Institute - https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/

 

 

Business Resources

Enterprise Plus - https://enterpriseplus.org.au/

Service NSW - https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/business

Small Business Commissioner - https://www.smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au/

Business.gov.au - https://business.gov.au/finance/support-for-your-business-finances

Guest Speakers

Hazel Dalton

Hazel Dalton is a Senior Research Fellow at Charles Sturt University's Rural Health Research Institute. She's also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Canberra’s Mental Health Policy Unit. Hazel has extensive experience in managing research on rural public health, mental health promotion, and suicide prevention. She is interested in translating and communicating research to support programs and inform policy. Hazel has a diverse research background in conceptual modelling, quantitative, and qualitative research approaches.

She was the Research Leader and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Newcastle’s Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health from 2016-2022. She remains an Honorary Senior Lecturer with the University of Newcastle and affiliated with the Hunter Medical Research Institute’s Healthy Minds Program.

Hazel has led several mental health projects related to rural small businesses and considerations of mental health in the workplace. She served as a rural advisor to Beyond Blue’s NewAccess for Small Business Owners mental health coaching program. As a rural small family business owner herself, she emphasizes the need for owners and employees to take care of their mental health as a business strategy and for full participation in life.

Rob Southwell

Rob Southwell is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ experience in advising private businesses and families. In addition, he built and grew a successful professional services firm of over 300+ people.

Rob decided to “retire” at age 46 but continues to consult to private businesses and coaching services to executives and business owners, in developing and achieving their business and personal goals.

As the former Managing Partner for Pitcher Partners Sydney, Rob was responsible for development and execution of firm strategy, key client management, oversight of the practice management group including Finance, People & Culture, Business Development, Marketing & Branding, and Partner performance. Further, Rob had an active partner role within the Private Client group providing a wide range of advisory services to private businesses, high net worth individuals and families, including business strategy and performance, taxation, superannuation and structuring.

Rob has a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from the University of Wollongong. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Tax Institute of Australia and the Australia Institute of Company Directors. He has also completed Harvard Business School Intensive on Leadership in Professional Services Firms. He also was an active member of the Entrepreneurs Organisation (EO) and YPO, Sydney chapters.

He has been married for 25 years to his entrepreneur partner; Danika, has two teenagers Bella and Charlie and lives in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. He has a passion for fast cars, loud rock music, wine and food.